WXXA Fox23 Sets, Equipment to Enhance TV Studios

WXXA Fox23 Sets, Equipment to Enhance TV Studios

October 2013

SUNY Plattburgh’s television studios will soon have a new look, thanks to WXXA Fox23 of Albany, N.Y.

WXXA producer and SUNY Plattsburgh alumnus Joe Walsh ’96 helped facilitate the gift of two news sets and equipment that will be retrofitted and installed this winter. These are the same sets that Albany-area residents viewed on the station’s 6 and 11 p.m. news from 2001 until recently.

Starting spring semester, they will adorn the Albert R. Montanaro Television Studios in Yokum Lecture Hall. These rooms are used for lessons on studio and field production, in addition to serving as the headquarters of Plattsburgh State Television, broadcasting on Charter cable, Channel 17.

Inspired by Fond Memories

Walsh has fond memories of his work on PSTV — memories that he shares with others at his station.

“I’m sure I speak for all of the many, many SUNY Plattsburgh alumni who have worked at WXXA over the years when I say it feels great to give back to the school that has given me so much,” Walsh said.

Well Beyond What College Could Afford to Buy

Communication faculty at SUNY Plattsburgh are grateful.

“I can tell you that the set is well beyond anything that we could ever afford to buy new,” said Jon Chew, television studio manager for PSTV. “Once in place, the news set will help our students envision themselves as working as professionals in a television news environment. I honestly feel it will make our students work harder, and that is priceless."

“The studios in Yokum Hall were in dire need of new sets,” Rao said. “This donation will greatly enhance their appearance since these sets are professional quality and give opportunity for students to simulate real-world news broadcasting.”

Training Students in Television, Radio and Multimedia

SUNY Plattsburgh’s communication studies department has more than 300 students and nine full-time faculty members. Its focus is to train students going into the fields of television, radio and multimedia.

PSTV broadcasts four hours a day, seven days a week during the school year. The sets will be for news and sports shows.